You can reach Rich
Tandler by email at WarpathInsiders@comcast.net
It seems as though there is some sort of unwritten rule, perhaps even a law,
that says that former Redskins who have found their way to teams in New York
must blast their former team when given a chance. In the past several months
Laveranues Coles, Antonio Pierce and, most recently, LaVar Arrington, have
taken potshots at virtually every aspect of the organization from the
atmosphere to the commitment to winning to the number of potholes in the
parking lot at Redskins Park. The fact that the Redskins seem to have turned
things around under Joe Gibbs has not deterred them from launching into their
diatribes.
A refreshing change from this pattern was observed recently when reporters gave
Patrick Ramsey an opportunity to pile on and he declined to do so. When asked
if he had anything to prove on Saturday when he should get an opportunity to
play at FedEx Field as a member of the New York Jets, he had this to say:
"My only thoughts are when I get an
opportunity to play, to play well," Ramsey said. "That's the honest
truth. I know it's hard to believe. I did spend a lot of time there and I
enjoyed my time there. I just want to go back there and help my team do
well."
"The way I'm looking at it is when I go in there, I want to do well, help
our team and go score," he continued. "That's what it's about. That's
why we're out here practicing. When we find out, that's when we start focusing
on it."
The ironic part
of this is that if any of the four former starters who packed up and headed up
the Jersey Turnpike has a right to be bitter it’s Ramsey. After getting knocked
around and occasionally knocked out under Steve Spurrier’s ineffective
pass-blocking schemes he earned the starting job halfway through the first year
under Gibbs.
It started to
go downhill for him again when the Redskins drafted quarterback Jason Campbell
in the first round in 2005. Then Ramsey suffered a minor injury in the ’05 season
opener, however, Gibbs yanked him from the first team and buried him on the bench
for the rest of the season. A grumble or two was heard from Ramsey but ultimately
he decided that the best course would be to be quiet and bide his time until
the offseason came around.
Still,
unfettered from the possibility of being labeled a malcontent for complaining
about the team he was still a member of, Ramsey took the high road.
"You can take away from it what you want," he
said. "I had a good time there."
No jabs at Daniel Snyder, no charges of unfair treatment,
no blasting the offensive system of a Hall of Fame coach, just “I had a good
time.”
Here’s to hoping that Patrick Ramsey has good times
wherever he goes. With an outlook on life like the one he has, chances are that
he will.
